Michigan

Patti Moed is silhouetted as she uses a flashlight to walk up 27 flights of stairs to her home inside Plaza Towers in Grand Rapids Sunday, April 21, 2013. Residents have been evacuated as rising waters from the Grand River have flooded the building's basement and cut the electricity. Patti was walking with her husband, Rich Moed. Also with them was Laurie Reeves, who works for Courtyard Marriott hotek, which is also housed in the building. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

WEST MICHIGAN — Federal, state and local officials will be fanning out this week to conduct preliminary damage assessments in areas impacted by historic April flooding.

On Thursday, May 9, the Michigan State Police, Federal Emergency Management Agency and local officials will be knocking on doors in areas severely-impacted by recent flooding, which prompted Gov. Rick Snyder this week to declare a “state of disaster” in 19 counties and the cities of Grand Rapids and Ionia.

Thus far, preliminary estimates have put flood damage within Grand Rapids city limits at more than $11 million combined for public and private property.

Elsewhere in Kent County, officials have estimated $6.2 million in damages.

Thursday’s damage assessments will occur in Ionia, Kent, Newaygo and Ottawa counties. More areas may be included in the survey.

The teams will asses damage to homes, rented properties and businesses as well as public infrastructure.

The process is the initial step in determining whether a federal declaration of disaster should be requested by state officials.

Private property owners impacted by the flooding are encouraged to submit a damage report with their county of residence, and keep any receipts showing costs incurred during flood clean-up.